There are additional ways to search for funding to support your graduate studies in the UK and Ireland. We encourage all candidates who have applied to the major national awards to also consider taking the time to search for alternative funding both through their chosen institution and through some of the resources provided below. CCRF staff are not experts on every funding option available in the UK or Ireland, nor are there formal support or endorsement processes required. Students are expected to perform their own due-dilligance, using the resources below and CCRF staff can review personal statements, as needed:
Institution-specific awards and nationally competitive awards:
University of Oxford:
- Ertegun Scholarship: Provides full funding for a graduate degree in the humanities at Oxford University. Complete details at: https://ccrf.uchicago.edu/opportunity/mica-and-ahmet-ertegun-graduate-scholarship-programme-humanities. Students are advised to work closely with CCRF staff on their Ertegun application.
- Clarendon Fellowships: largest post-graduate fellowship program for international students (all disciplines) at Oxford: https://www.ox.ac.uk/clarendon. Application process in parallel with University of Oxford admissions application.
- Nuffield College Fellowship Scheme: all post-graduate students in the social sciences who are offered a place at Nuffield College will receive full funding. They must note (and be admitted to) Nuffield as their first choice college on the University of Oxford graduate admissions application: https://www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-studies/
University of Cambridge:
- Gates-Cambridge Scholarship: nationally competitive, open-discipline fellowship that supports postgraduate study in Cambridge. Complete information available here: https://ccrf.uchicago.edu/opportunity/gates-cambridge-scholarship-us-citizens. Also open to international students. Please contact CCRF staff for guidance on applying to the Gates-Cambridge Scholarship.
- Churchill Scholarship: nationally competitve, STEM-only award for one year of STEM graduate study at Churchill College, Cambridge. Institutional endorsement required. Full details available at: http://ccrf.uchicago.edu/opportunity/churchill-scholarship
- John Crook Scholarships: funds a second BA at St. John's College, Cambridge (first generation students): https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/john-crook-scholarships
Additional resources:
- British Council – Study in the UK
- Guide to research designations for UK institutions of higher-education (Research Assessment Exercise)
- Hobson’s Course Guide for Graduates
- UK Council for International Student Affairs
- Association for Commonwealth Universities
Target Postgrad: https://targetpostgrad.com/
- Information about UK and Ireland postgraduate programs and funding options.
Prospects: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/
- A career and postgraduate education site that includes information about funding options.
Degree Structures: Vary by institution
- MSt. or MSc. (Masters of Studies) – One year master’s course with exams and/or thesis in addition to course-work in a nine-month period (some may be longer).
- M.Phil. (Masters of Philosophy) – Most often a two year master’s course suited to disciplines requiring extensive field-work, thesis research, etc. Some institutions offer one-year MPhil options.
- D.Phil. (Doctorate of Philosophy) – Two-four year doctoral course following one or two years of masters level work. This is the terminal equivalent of the Ph.D.